PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court on Thursday granted protective bail to leader of the opposition in National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan, for a month and directed law enforcement agencies not to arrest him in cases registered against him.

A bench consisting of PHC Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Wiqar Ahmad directed Omar Ayub to approach relevant high courts in Islamabad and Punjab for seeking details of cases registered against him there.

Advocate Alam Khan Adenzai appeared for Mr Ayub in a petition filed by him, seeking protective bail as well as directives for law enforcement agencies to provide details of cases registered against him.

The counsel stated that the petitioner was earlier granted protective bail by the high court till Nov 8, which would expire on Friday. He stated that he had been charged in dozens of criminal cases in different parts of the country including Islamabad and Punjab and he had been appearing in those cases on regular basis.

Bench directs him to approach relevant courts to seek details of cases against him

However, he stated, whenever the petitioner appeared in those cases he had been harassed by different law enforcement agencies regarding cases about which so far no details had been provided to him.

He argued that his protective bail would expire on Nov 8, therefore there was apprehension of his arrest in any of the cases against him.

When the bench observed that at the most 15 days protective bail could be granted to the petitioner, Mr Ayub said that he was leader of the opposition in National Assembly and was also a member of Judicial Commission for appointment of judges.

He stated that he had been appearing before courts, therefore, 15 days’ time won’t be enough for appearance in large number of cases. The bench then decided to allow him protective bail for a month.

Earlier, a single member bench of Justice Ijaz Anwar granted transit bails to Mr Ayub in 21 cases till Dec 2. The bench directed him to appear before relevant courts by that date.

Advocate Alam Khan said they had information about 21 cases registered against the petitioner in different police stations of Islamabad and Punjab. He stated that the petitioner wanted to appear before relevant courts to get relief but apprehended that he would be arrested on his way to courts.

BAIL: The bench consisting of PHC Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Wiqar Ahmad granted transit bail to director Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Anti-Corruption Establishment, Sadeeq Anjum, till Nov 21 in a case registered against him under cybercrime law in Islamabad for allegedly defaming a judicial officer, who had convicted former prime minister Imran Khan last year, and his family members.

The bench directed him to appear before the relevant court by that date.

The case was registered by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Sept 11 over a complaint filed by Ahmad Sadiq Khan, a nephew of special judge (central) Islamabad Humayun Dilawar.

The FIR was registered under sections 20 and 24 of Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act read with sections 505, 506 (ii), 34 and 109 of Pakistan Penal Code.

In the FIR, the petitioner was charged along with the special assistant to chief minister on anti-corruption, retired Brigadier Mussadiq Abbasi, and the additional director (admin) of ACE, Umer Siddique.

Advocate Alam Khan appeared for the petitioner and stated that his client was heading ACE and had been charged in a fake case on political grounds.

He said that the petitioner wanted to appear before the relevant court but he would be arrested. He added that another officer of ACE, Umer Siddique, was already arrested by FIA in Islamabad when he was approaching the court.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2024